Help

[Emma0912]

We had problems with our header tank overfilling and water going out the overflow. 6 British Gas engineers and 3 ballcocks/ballvalves later turns out that pressure from the kitchen hot tap was causing water to back feed the water tank causing the overflow. The last engineer has since turned off the valve to the hot water tap in the kitchen which was yesterday. This morning after running a bath the tank is now not refilling with water and I don't know what is causing this. We have British Gas coming out tomorrow but was wondering if there is anything I can do in the meantime apart from boiling kettles lol.

 

[sonray ltd]

you say he has turned of the valve to the hot tap in kitchen. so you only get cold from the tap at the moment.

 

[Emma0912]

Yes, we have cold water in the kitchen tap, and we would have hot water from other hot taps upstairs.

 

[sonray ltd]

least we know you still have mains cold.

have you checked the ball valve in the loft as he may of isolated the feed to it or it has jammed shut not to be filling the tank.

i take it you mean the tank in the loft is not filling ?

 

[Emma0912]

I think we have a wierd set up. Our boiler/tank is in an airing cupboard in the bathroom where we can look into the header tank. The engineer who came out said that the tank in the loft is for the central heating?? I don't think there is any water actually in the pipe to the ball valve so could it be the pressure isn't strong enough since the engineer turned the hot tap valve off?

Sorry if I sound blonde!

 

[sonray ltd]

no the hot is seperate.

ok yes the tank in loft is heating - forget that one.

this tank in airing cupboard runs from the mains cold feed.

if you look in it the tank is totally empty ?
lift the ball valve up/down a few times nothing comes out ?

if not follow the pipe down and look for a valve on the pipe that could be shut off.

let me know.

 

[Emma0912]

I've just had a look at the ballvalve and loosen it a bit and it now seems to be filling up so it looks like it was just too tight. Will keep an eye on it but it seems I'm a plumber in the making

 

[sonray ltd]

has shutting the kitchen hot tap stopped the overflowing ?

 

[Emma0912]

Yeah, since the valve has been turned off it's stopped overflowing.

 

[sonray ltd]

what are they going to do tomorrow ?

 

[Emma0912]

I called british gas to come out because our tank wasn't filling up but seeing as I've fixed it by loosening the valve I've cancelled the visit. Seems the last engineer had it too tight, and because I've been at work hadn't noticed till now.

The valve is being sorted by the landlord as the house is rented.

 

[sonray ltd]

easyest solution to your problem is stick a check valve on the hot water pipe before the tap.

this stops mains pressure cold water pushing gravity hot water backwards then filling your tank and overflowing.

 

[Emma0912]

Where can you buy one of those from? Are they easy to fit ourselves?

 

[sonray ltd]

any plumbers merchants.

they are called a single check valve. and yes you can do them yourself.
but working under kitchen sinks without the right tools can be a nightmare.

only cost a few qiud.

are you taps old etc ?

 

[Emma0912]

New basic taps, nothing fancy.

Thanks so much for your help!